News

Shoppers flee gunfire in Southland Mall but no one injured

Hayward police asking anyone shopping at mall with information to call them

Hayward police are investigating an incident at Southland Mall in which a man fired multiple gunshots in the mall's parking lot Saturday afternoon, a police lieutenant said.

At about 3:30 p.m., Hayward police received multiple reports of shots fired at the mall, located on Southland Mall Drive, according to police Lt. Bryan Matthews.

Officers arrived and encountered people fleeing from multiple Southland Mall exits and running in all directions across the parking lot.

Although it was initially reported to police that one person was shot near one of the mall entrances, no one was found injured, and no local hospitals have reported treating any shooting victims, Matthews said.

Police surrounded the mall and closed down several nearby streets for about an hour while a thorough search of the mall was conducted. Investigators also found evidence of gunfire outside a LensCrafters store at the mall.

Authorities detained several people that may have been involved in a confrontation in a Kohl's department store that led to the shooting, but released them all after determining the shooter was not among the group, Matthews said.

Police believe a confrontation in the Kohl's store continued in the parking lot, where a suspect took out a gun and fired multiple rounds. The suspect fled on foot and was last seen running south on Calaroga Avenue, according to police.

He is described as a Hispanic man between 18 and 20 years old who was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Hayward police are continuing to investigate the incident, and are asking anyone with information to call the Police Department's investigations bureau at (510) 293-7033 or police dispatch at (510) 293-7000.